Related Links

STANFORD, Calif. -- No. 5 Stanford plays host to No. 2 UCLA on Thursday in a matchup that has annually been pivotal in determining the Pac-12 women’s soccer title. The two schools have combined to earn at least a share of the conference championship in each of the past 12 years and have become frequent NCAA tournament competitors as well. Stanford (9-1-1, 2-1) will attempt to extend its seven-match winning streak over the Bruins (10-1-1, 2-0-1).

* * *

The following is a closer look at the match:

Who: No. 5 Stanford (9-1-1, 2-1) vs. No. 2 UCLA (10-1-1, 2-0-1)

When: Thursday, 7:30 p.m. PT

Where: Laird Q. Cagan Stadium, Stanford, Calif.

Storyline: The teams have combined to win the past 12 Pac-12 titles.

All-Time Series Record: Stanford leads, 12-9-3.

TV: The match will be shown live on the Pac-12 Networks. J.B. Long and Krista Blunk call the action.

Follow: For live stats, look for links on gostanford.com when the match begins.

Promotions: Stanford soccer, the Office of Sustainability, and the 5 Rights Football Club present "Local. Sustainable. Stanford." This event supports campus and community water, food, health, housing and education initiatives. For more information visit 5RFC.org. General admission tickets are $5 for local sustainability organizations and members. Use promo code SUSTAIN. Also, this is a Red Zone Point Night for Stanford students.

Thursday’s Opponent, UCLA: The Bruins (10-1-1 overall) share the early lead in the Pac-12 Conference with California and Utah, each at 2-0-1. UCLA is coming off a 0-0 double-overtime draw against visiting Washington on Monday night. The result probably would have dropped the Bruins in the national rankings if it had been played a night earlier. Instead, the votes were cast before the match. UCLA is under the direction of first-year coach Amanda Cromwell, who spent the past 14 seasons at Central Florida. The Bruins have recorded eight shutouts this season and goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland carries a 0.34 goals-against average, the second-best figure in the Pac-12.

The Stanford-UCLA Series: Stanford and UCLA have developed a strong rivalry in recent years. They have combined to win at least a share of the past 12 Pac-12 championships. Stanford holds a 12-9-3 series lead and has won their past seven matchups. UCLA hasn’t beaten Stanford since Oct. 31, 2008, in Westwood. That 1-0 result capped an unbeaten streak of six consecutive years in the series for the Bruins (4-0-2).

Stanford and UCLA have met in the NCAA tournament three of the past four years, all resulting in Stanford victories. Last year, goals by Chioma Ubogagu and Rachel Quon within 72 seconds of each other late in the second half rallied No. 1 Stanford past No. 2 UCLA, 2-1, before 4,068 at Drake Stadium. The teams met again in the NCAA quarterfinals and Stanford again rallied in the second half, this time on a pair of goals by Lo’eau LaBonta, to win, 2-1.

* * *

The Season Thus Far: On Sunday, Stanford lost at home for the first time since 2007. Arizona State’s 1-0 victory snapped a 73-match home unbeaten streak and a 44-match conference winning streak. It was the second tough matchup of the weekend for Stanford, which needed overtime to beat visiting Arizona, 2-1, on a left-footed shot in the 100th minute from Taylor Uhl. The junior transfer now has 10 goals this season, tying her for the conference lead. It was the third overtime victory for Stanford, which earlier got second-overtime winners from Alex Doll (against Boston College) and Courtney Verloo (against Santa Clara). Uhl had three consecutive two-goal performances. Stanford suffered a blow when All-America goalkeeper Emily Oliver retired after suffering a series of concussions.

* * *

Bruin Killer: Stanford’s Chioma Ubogagu has had some of her most memorable performances against UCLA. As a freshman, Ubogagu scored two spectacular goals to put the Cardinal ahead 2-0 by the 18th minute in a 4-1 victory. Last year, Ubogagu tied the score of their regular-season match by scoring on a 20-yard left-footed shot and then gave Rachel Quon the feed for the winning goal 72 seconds later in a Pac-12 title showdown at UCLA that resulted in a 2-1 Stanford victory.

* * *

Finding the Right Combination: Here are some interesting facts about Stanford’s starting lineups this year:

• Coach Paul Ratcliffe has used nine different starting lineups in 11 matches.

• Only once has Ratcliffe used the same lineup in consecutive matches. That was against Santa Clara (a 3-2 double-overtime victory) and Colorado (a 2-0 victory).

• Ratcliffe has duplicated only two lineups and neither has been used more than twice.

• Eighteen players have started at least once.

• Five freshmen have started this season.

• Four players have started every match this season: outside back Laura Liedle, midfielder Alex Doll, and forwards Taylor Uhl, and Courtney Verloo.

Most Frequent Lineup: Stanford coach Paul Ratcliffe has used the following lineup only twice -- in a 2-1 overtime victory over Arizona and 5-0 victory over Saint Mary’s -- but this lineup is comprised of the 11 players who have made the most starts. Stanford typically uses a 4-3-3.

• Stanford has not lost more than once in the regular season since 2007, when the Cardinal went 14-2-4.

• From 2008 through this season, Stanford has a combined regular-season record of 101-3-6 (.945).

• Stanford has not lost two consecutive matches since the first two of the 2006 season, to Utah and Wake Forest.

• Stanford has not lost consecutive matches at home since 2003, to Santa Clara and Loyola Marymount.

• Stanford has not lost consecutive conference matches at home since 1997, to USC and UCLA.

* * *

Remembering 2009: The passing of the torch between UCLA and Stanford came on Oct. 18, 2009 when Stanford beat the visiting Bruins, 2-0. The result ended UCLA’s 22-match conference winning streak and, essentially, their six-year hold on the Pac-10 title. Stanford would win the next four titles and win 44 straight in conference play.

Thirteen future All-Americans played in that match, including seven who would play for full national teams, and five (Lauren Cheney of UCLA, and Kelley O’Hara, Christen Press, Teresa Noyola, and Lindsay Taylor of Stanford) who would become national players of the year. The teams met again that season, in the College Cup semifinals. Stanford won 2-1 on an overtime goal by Press in College Station, Texas.